Artem Chigvintsev Worked a 'Construction Job' After Being 'Cut' fromDWTS, Claims Ex Nikki Garcia: 'Felt It Was Beneath Him'

Mar. 15, 2025

Nikki Garcia (left), Artem Chigvintsev.Photo:Adela Loconte/Shutterstock; David Livingston/Getty

Adela Loconte/Shutterstock; David Livingston/Getty

After getting cut fromDancing with the Stars,Artem Chigvintsevsought out work in construction, according to his exNikki Garcia.

On Oct. 3, the former WWE star, 40, was granted a temporarydomestic violence restraining ordershortly afterfiling for divorce. Two weeks prior, Chigvintsev wasarrested on accusations of corporal injury to spousein Napa, Calif. on Aug. 29. The District Attorney’s office laterdeclined to file criminal charges.

(L) Artem Chigvintsev and Nikki Garcia on ‘Dancing with the Stars’.Eric McCandless/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty

“He had begun work at a construction job and felt it was beneath him,” the filing alleged. “Since being cut fromDancing with the Stars, Artem had been growing increasingly angry, snapping at me, and yelling. We had discussions about his need to control his anger.”

On Aug. 29, PEOPLE confirmed that there were no plans for the Russian-born dancer to take part in season 33 ofDancing with the Starsprior tohis arrest.

This isn’t the first time Chigvintsev has been cut from a season. In 2019, the dancer opened up about finding out he had been cut from the competitive dance show for season 28 during an appearance on Garcia’s podcast,The Bellas.

“I don’t know where to begin, to be honest with you. Obviously, it was a massive shock. Having those calls is never, never, never fun," he said. “I dedicated 10 years of my life to that company and getting let go three days before an announcement, that’s like a punch in the stomach, really.”

Artem Chigvintsev.Maarten de Boer/ABC/Getty

Maarten de Boer/ABC/Getty

He continued, “It’s not even a job, it’s a lifestyle if you’ve been doing it for a very, very long time. There was never really a thought in my mind that I [wasn’t] going to be doing it. … But getting this call and [hearing], ‘There’s going to be no involvement in the show from now on’ — it’s like going through a breakup after 10 years.”

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The married pair, who share 4-year-old son Matteo, have been estranged since the dispute which led to Garcia filing to divorce Chigvintsev and ending their two year marriage on Sept. 11.

Though Chigvintsev was arrested on charges of corporal injury to a spouse, Napa County District Attorney Allison Haley announced on Sept. 24 that her office haddeclined to file criminal chargesagainst the formerDancing with the Starspro dancer.

Both are due in court on Oct. 21 for a full hearing, per court filings.

source: people.com